Flintoff will replace Paul Collingwood. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images
Andrew Flintoff will make his first Test appearance for England in 18 months in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley, captain Michael Vaughan has confirmed.
Vaughan stated that Flintoff will bat at No7, though he could not confirm who he would replace, as the final [...]

Flintoff said he had no worries over his fitness. Photograph: S Forster/Getty
Andrew Flintoff believes he can become a better player than ever in Test cricket as he prepares to return for England after a lengthy injury lay-off.
After being kept out of the Test side for 18 months by a succession of injuries, Flintoff has [...]

Another season in the Championship beckons for Phillips. Photograph: Guardian
Birmingham City have completed the signing of striker Kevin Phillips on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion. The 34-year-old had been holding out for a two-year contract at the Hawthorns but Albion were only prepared to offer one year.
Phillips, who scored 46 goals in 81 [...]

Dwain Chambers ran the fastest 100m by a Briton this year in Sofia. Photograph: Malcolm Couzens/AP
Dwain Chambers’ legal team have launched a case against the British Olympic Association in order to reverse the sprinter’s Olympic ban and allow him to run in Beijing.
Chambers is currently banned from running at the Olympics after serving a [...]

Croatia’s Luka Modric scored the only goal against Austria. Photograph: Hans Klaus Techt/Getty Images
As if the power and durability did not suffice, Germany frequently employ their reputation to beat rivals into submission. They and Croatia each won their opening fixture at Euro 2008, but the resemblance ends there. It is the smaller nation that has [...]

Stoke fans celebrate their promotion to the Premier League. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images.
It is 35 years since a movement called pub rock began to send waves lapping around the feet of the established giants of popular music. In places with names like the Hope and Anchor and the Greyhound, something stirred. Bands called Bees Make [...]